"Did you not solemnly pledge me your word four days ago, your
excellency, to submit to my treatment for two weeks, and adhere to
my instructions?"
"Yes, and I think I have kept my word. I have swallowed your
medicines, pills, and powders, rubbed in your salves, and applied
your plasters, in accordance with your directions, although I must
say that all this did not help me any."
"But your eyes have not grown any worse, and they will soon improve,
if you continue my treatment."
"Well, what do you want me to do, then?"
"You must stay here. You must not be six or eight hours on
horseback; you must not expose yourself so long to the dust and
sun."
"What! I am not to participate in the entrance of the monarchs into
Paris?" cried Blucher, indignantly.
"I implore your excellency not to do so," said the physician, in an
impressive tone. "Give yourself a few days' rest and recreation, and
your eyes will get well; but if you expose yourself to-day I shall
never again cross your threshold, for I do not care to be disgraced
by the report that Field-Marshal Blucher lost his eyesight while
under my care; and I tell you, you will be blind, and then I can do
nothing for you."
"Stay here, your excellency," begged Gneisenau; "do not trifle with
your dear eyes, destined to see still many beautiful things, and
gladden the world by their heroic glances! What can a triumph of a
few hours' duration be to you to whom every day will be a triumph,
and whom delivered Germany awaits to greet with manifestations of
love and gratitude?"
"Ah, it is not for the sake of the triumph that I wish to go," cried
Blucher, morosely.
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